In 2001, Jim Collins and his team wrote a book, entitled “Good to Great.”
They gathered tons of data to determine what made companies truly great, and not just good or mediocre. Scanning through the stock market records, they sought out companies from 1950 to present that had a long period of okay performance, but then had a major increase in profits and stock value lasting at least 15 years. Of the thousands of stocks, they only found 11 companies that fit their criteria. Then, they searched those companies (comparing them with each other and contrasting them with others in their business sectors) to find out what made them different.
Over a few posts, I’ll share some of the key concepts, and then discuss them not in a business sense, but in a LDS setting.
1. The Key Principles are built upon the Flywheel:
Those companies that not only succeeded, but did brilliantly, had these issues all in common. We’ll be discussing them over the next several weeks.
For this week, I’ll share this concept: Colllins’ research demonstrates that for a person or company to be successful, she must have the following three criteria:
1. Deeply Passionate about the thing
If it does not inspire you, then it isn’t something you will want to do in the long term. It has to be something that stirs within you constantly, and that you deeply believe in.
2. Something you can be the Very Best in the World at
If you are mediocre at something, you will not be able to succeed against those who are truly talented in that same area.
3. It drives your Economic Engine
If the rewards are not there, then it is not financially (or emotionally, intellectually, etc) worth doing.
The key, then, is to find the sweet spot where all three intersect. Whether it is in business, family, the gospel, service, developing talents, etc., we should focus on those things that we are deeply passionate about, which we are very good at doing, and that reward us.
If I read my scriptures, but I am not passionate about them, then I will not continue studying them for a lifetime. Or I could be passionate about scripture study, but not very good at it, or I do not receive the spiritual rewards I hear everyone else is getting from reading scriptures. There are things I can do to solve this issue, as scripture study is very important in our spiritual development.
1. Find a method of study that works best for you. It may include listening to scriptures, taking them in small chunks, studying them by topic rather than straight through, or diagramming them in one sense or another.
2. Find out what in the scriptures makes you feel passionate. For most people, reading the genealogical lists of King David’s musicians is simply not inspiring. So, find the parts that do interest you. It may be the war sections, perhaps the poetic prose, or the doctrines themselves.
3. Find out what you are best at, when it comes to the scriptures. Is it the ability to understand complex concepts? Perhaps it is the ability to teach and explain things (if so, you can start a blog!). Find out how it works best for you, or how you are the best at doing something in regards to it.
4. If the Lord rewards you for studying scriptures by sending the Comforter or inspiration to you, then great! If not, find a reward of your own. When you complete your studies for the week, reward yourself with your favorites ice cream, candy, time on the beach or another rewarding thing you love.
The same focus will apply to prayer, school work, parenting, etc. Of course, we need to remember that in the gospel, the Lord sometimes requires somethings from us that we are weak in. That is okay. Something “Good to Great” does not consider is the abililty of God to qualify those he calls. Starting with our greatest strengths, and building on them, is where we should begin in whatever call we receive (Primary teacher, parent, General Authority). Then, as we are humble, the Lord shall make weak things strong for us, allowing us to have additional strengths we can use to help further the great work of God.